Does anyone go to Tumble Tots?

[Jchihuahua]

Daisy goes to Gymboree and it is her favourite thing in the world. She's been going since she was 8 months old and is at her absolute happiest when she is there. I am gutted for her because we got an e mail last week to say that the people who own the franchise here are shutting it down so she has three more classes left and then it is finished for good . She will miss it terribly and all the little friends she's made. Also it is on a Saturday so it meant that I could go to it with her. Her other groups are midweek when I'm at work so daddy always goes .

Anyway, I've been looking into what she could go to instead that is similar and I was wondering about Tumble Tots. It won't have the social aspect of Gymboree which is a shame but it still looks as though it might be quite good for her. Does anyone's LO go to Tumble Tots? What is it like? Is it worth the money? Is she old enough to manage at 18 months?

 

[Bumpontherun]

I took Helen to tumble tots for six months or so but had to stop a few weeks back as it was so bad for me SPD.

I'm not sure about it TBH. I went for very similar reasons to you. DH is a stay at home dad so he got to go to all the weekday groups and I went to tumbletots on a Saturday. It was kind of like a mini assault course which was changed around every couple of weeks. Helen did enjoy it but it was pretty expensive as you have to join the organisation (I think it was maybe £23 a year) as well as the weekly fee of around £6. There was singing in the middle and at the end and each week we had a different toy to play with too like bean bags or balls. We did enjoy it but there is quite a cheap soft play not too far from us (about £1.50 an hour) I think Helen actually enjoys that more as she is able to be more independent there. Also at tumbletots you have to spend a lot of time holding LO up and helping them on the equipment so you don't really interact much with the other parents and Helen didn't really interact with the other kids either.

If you have a good one near you I think you might be better organising a few of the mums from your old group going to soft play on a Saturday

Our tumbletots lets you go for a trial session which I think is £5 so you can try it out without commiting to a course - I would definitely recommend doing that to see what you think.

 

[QTPie]

We started it about five weeks ago - pretty good and fills a hole in our schedule (I like to do lots of things and LO - 17.5 months - is very active and full of beans).

I think that it may vary depending on who delivers your course: I find the concept good, but the delivery is a little lame (the explanations, assistance and singing - the equipment is fine).

We have a much better soft play/gym session (although it is open and free for all and toddler age) and singing session at a local independent gymnastics gym - we do that once a week too. Tumble Tots fills a gap and provides a different (more disciplined) approach.

Request a free trial (from their website) and go along and see for yourselves. Also check out local independent gyms and see what they may offer....

 

[flower01]

i tried a class when willow was crawling and it was a bit like a soft play centre but only bits of it and in a hall with a hard floor.
we sung a song at the beggining.
i didnt go back as i thought i could just take willow to a soft play area instead for cheaper! it cost 6quid!!

wasnt impressed really

x

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I've heard a lot o good things about TT from other mums but these replies don't make it sound great! I dunno about the price because I found Gymboree expensive for what it was (worked out at just under £10 per 45 min session PLUS a yearly fee) but Ruby absolutely adored it. Maybe see if there is an independent gym type thing near you or something like a toddler dancing class, sometimes these things aren't very well advertised!

 

[MRSTJ]

Well i think tumble tots is fab. Both my children started when they were 6 months old and they love it. My son is just coming to the end of tumble tots as he starts school in sept, where as my daughter is currently in gymbabes.
The equipment gets changed around every 2 weeks and in the younger tumble tots classes your little one can explore the equipment with your help. In our classes we have to hold the backs of their t shirts so that if they do fall you can stop them but at the same time they are learning to climb themselves. When they get to the older tumble tots classes they then give you a little story behind the equipment like your on an adventure to climb to the top of a mountain.

 

[hattiehippo]

Tom's been going to Gymbabes and then Tumble Tots since last September and tbh I'm trying to find something else for this September cos I think its overpriced for what you get, I don't like the formality of it and he gets far more physically out of going to a soft play place for an hour.

I think if your LO is quite co-operative and a bit nervy of trying new things it might be a good thing but Tom hates being directed to try things and won't even attempt things he's not happy with and is a total daredevil who just wants to throw himself down the ramps all the time. I end up trying to persuade him to try things that he mostly refuses to and the women who run it stand around and look at me like I'm useless at controlling him!

I did try a session on a different day which was much better so the quality of the input and interaction does depend on the people running it. Unfortuantly I can't do that day normally so have been stuck with the one where the women don't really do anything but stand around and chat to each other.

I'd try a session in your area and see what you think.

 

[Nats21]

i tried a class when willow was crawling and it was a bit like a soft play centre but only bits of it and in a hall with a hard floor.
we sung a song at the beggining.
i didnt go back as i thought i could just take willow to a soft play area instead for cheaper! it cost 6quid!!

wasnt impressed really

x

We did the same, I took Callum and while he enjoyed it it was the same sort of equipment as a soft play centre, the lesson only lasted 40 minutes and I could get more for my money from taking him to soft play. We did sing songs at the beginning and the end but again I can take him to toddler groups for that sort of thing. Wasn't worth the money in my opinion xxx

 

[Jchihuahua]

Thanks ladies, I appreciate your input . I think I'll book her a trial class and see what she makes of it. I know she won't enjoy it as much as she loves gymboree as the socialising part is what she loves but we'll give it a go! As she doesn't go to nursery I want her to socialise with other toddlers as much as possible.

We do have a soft play nearby and hubby takes her once a week but it is so busy on a Saturday that we don't bother then and it drives me mad as people just don't supervise their kids and there are always bigger kids bounding around in the baby/toddler area so I always feel on edge!

There is a Baby Ballet class not too far away that we might trial as well and see what we prefer!

Thanks again and any suggestions of other groups that your babies loves (don't have to be gym) would be gratefully received!

 

[bubbles123]

I really recommend Jo Jingles if there is one near you. It's a movement and dance type class and it's really good. It's a franchise like Tumble Tots so it will depend on the area but in ours the equipment is lovely and new and the songs and leader are great. There is no joining or membership fees and it is approx £5 a class, you pay in advance for each half term. Whilst it is a lot of money I would say it's definitely worth it. https://www.jojingles.com/

I took LO to Tumble Tots for a while but I thought it was too expensive for what it was. The classes were a bit formal for my LO but I'm sure that wouldn't be the case everywhere as it depends who runs it. Do the free trial and see what you think.

 

[Lucy_lu_84]

I took Joshua to the trial session, they bascially put out the equipment and that was that... no direction or anything. And i just spent my whole time helping him around the equipment.
I didn't go back, I figured i could take him to soft play cheaper and let him walk along walls at the park for free!

 

[hattiehippo]

I took Joshua to the trial session, they bascially put out the equipment and that was that... no direction or anything. And i just spent my whole time helping him around the equipment.

That's exactly what the sessions I've been taking Tom to are like...no direction or help whatsoever! Definately won't be carrying on with it after the end of this term.

I am looking into a couple of different options - 1 is Caterpillar Music and the other is Talking Tots but I haven't actually been to either yet. Does anyone take their LO to either of these?

 

[Jchihuahua]

I really recommend Jo Jingles if there is one near you. It's a movement and dance type class and it's really good. It's a franchise like Tumble Tots so it will depend on the area but in ours the equipment is lovely and new and the songs and leader are great. There is no joining or membership fees and it is approx £5 a class, you pay in advance for each half term. Whilst it is a lot of money I would say it's definitely worth it. https://www.jojingles.com/

I took LO to Tumble Tots for a while but I thought it was too expensive for what it was. The classes were a bit formal for my LO but I'm sure that wouldn't be the case everywhere as it depends who runs it. Do the free trial and see what you think.

I looked at the Jo Jingles website and it looks really good but pretty similar to Rhythm Time which she already goes to. You have to pay termly for Rhythm Time too and it is about the same price. They mainly play instruments, sing songs, listen to different sounds and do some dance and movement too. Is that pretty much what Jo Jingles is like as well?

She really likes Rhythm Time but not as much as she likes Gymboree as Rhythm Time is more structured and adult led while at gymboree she has more chance to go off and explore and socialise as well as the adult led sessions where they sit in the circle. At Rhythm Time they stay in the circle the whole time. Is Jo Jingles like that or can they go and socialise at all?

 

[New2Bumps]

Hi

I looked into Tumble Tots but was too pricey for us and seemed very structured - like you I prefer the more social clubs for Ethan. We tried Music Bugs which is similar to Rhythm Time but didn't think much of that - was just like the leader was rushing through trying to get as much in as possible and was mainly giving out and then taking back toys with no time for the kids or adults to chat or explore the instruments, puppets etc.
Let us know what you find Maybe if you get your gymboree class together you could all approach a local gym and see if they can get someone in to do something for you (if there are enough of you and they'd get their money back they might just look into it).
Prob obvious but have you checked on Netmums for other things in your area! xxx

 

[bubbles123]

I really recommend Jo Jingles if there is one near you. It's a movement and dance type class and it's really good. It's a franchise like Tumble Tots so it will depend on the area but in ours the equipment is lovely and new and the songs and leader are great. There is no joining or membership fees and it is approx £5 a class, you pay in advance for each half term. Whilst it is a lot of money I would say it's definitely worth it. https://www.jojingles.com/

I took LO to Tumble Tots for a while but I thought it was too expensive for what it was. The classes were a bit formal for my LO but I'm sure that wouldn't be the case everywhere as it depends who runs it. Do the free trial and see what you think.

I looked at the Jo Jingles website and it looks really good but pretty similar to Rhythm Time which she already goes to. You have to pay termly for Rhythm Time too and it is about the same price. They mainly play instruments, sing songs, listen to different sounds and do some dance and movement too. Is that pretty much what Jo Jingles is like as well?

She really likes Rhythm Time but not as much as she likes Gymboree as Rhythm Time is more structured and adult led while at gymboree she has more chance to go off and explore and socialise as well as the adult led sessions where they sit in the circle. At Rhythm Time they stay in the circle the whole time. Is Jo Jingles like that or can they go and socialise at all?

Jo Jingles is circle based during the session. There is time before and after for them to mix with the other children but not during the class. However, it is very movement based so you are not just sitting there (which is good as my LO doesn't sit for too long!). We do things like some singing, dancing, movement (like horse rides, bike rides etc with LO on your knee, throwing LO up in the air pretending to by jumping frogs etc), some musical instruments, some soft toys/masks/puppets and other dress ups, a story, bubbles, parachutes, giant blow up ball that the children pass around etc that type of thing. It does sound similar to the Rhythm time you used to go to, just with a few extras like the puppets, toys, story, blow up balls etc. It's run by the leader who sits at the front and Jo Jingles, the character that all the children get to say hello yo.

I hope you can find a club that you and LO enjoy X

 

[Jchihuahua]

Thanks ladies.

Daisy loves the parachute and bubbles at gymboree and they don't do that at Rhythm Time so I think Jo Jingles is sounding a bit like a cross between Gymboree and Rhythm Time. I think I'll book a trial at Jo Jingles and if she likes it cancel her Rhythm Time class and send her there instead!

I'm going to find more basic parent and toddler groups as well so even if her other groups are structured she'll have the social aspect of those. The only problem with those is that I'm at work so her daddy has to take her and he is a bit daunted by the idea of being there among all the mums as toddler groups can be a little cliquey in our experience!